Colleagues and community remember Trevor, champion of the railway

On Monday (17 April), Southern Railway colleagues joined family and friends of renowned rail user group leader Trevor Tupper OBE to unveil a commemorative bench at Chichester, his home station.

Trevor was involved with the West Sussex Rail Users Association since the 1980s, and was Vice Chair of the Arun Valley community rail partnership (CRP) until he died last year.

Trevor was hugely respected and worked hard with Southern Railway and, later, its parent company Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), to protect and improve services for the community. He was held in such high esteem that GTR’s Chief Operating Officer Angie Doll joined the ceremony.

Nigel Searle, from GTR Strategic Planning, and Rowena Tyler, SCRP Community Development Officer for the Arun Valley Line, organised the event and bench, which was made to a very high standard of craftsmanship by Southern's coastal skilled maintenance team member James Tongue (pictured below).

Nigel, who worked with Trevor over the decades to improve train services for passengers, said: "Trevor was very proactive - he understood what passengers needed, and he also had a deep understanding of the railway. He was a wonderful community person, and it was a great privilege to work with him over the years."

Rowena said: “When I joined SCRP in 2017, Trevor made his time and knowledge available to me, which was invaluable as someone new to the rail industry. He also travelled across the Southern Rail network, and discussed Community Rail possibilities with me, and even helped secure funding to deliver projects. Being able to commemorate his life and commitment with this beautiful bench and plaque, at this event was a fitting tribute and one he would have enjoyed immensely.”

Trevor’s wife, Monica, and grandson, Felix

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Notes to editors

Trevor received his OBE for services to the Civil Service developing pensions and community work for Haslewick School in Crawley